Forcewide: Keeping you safe on our roads

Vehicle operators and drivers of goods vehicles are being reminded of the importance of transporting dangerous goods safely and load security as a national enforcement campaign that starts today.

Co-ordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the campaign aims to highlight the risks both to drivers and other road users if goods aren’t transported properly.

Humberside Police will be carrying out proactive enforcement to identify unsafe vehicles and loads and take appropriate action to keep our region’s roads safe.

Special Operations Chief Inspector Iain Dixon said, “Dangerous goods are items or material that can pose a risk to people, animals, or the environment if not properly handled in use or during transport, this includes goods that can easily catch fire, are corrosive, or are radioactive.

“It’s very important that dangerous goods are packaged properly, loaded and secured to stop them moving around inside the vehicle, and that the vehicle itself has safety equipment, has identifying markings to show that it is carrying dangerous goods, and is driven by a driver trained to deal with dangerous goods.

“It is essential, whenever this type of load is carried, that is secured properly on the vehicle. If loads are not secured, they can fall off the vehicle on the road, or move so much they make the vehicle unstable. Unstable loads can also fall out of or off the vehicle when it arrives for unloading.

“While drivers are responsible for the safety of their vehicle on the road, consignors and vehicle operators are also responsible for ensuring that the load a vehicle carries is safe and secure from the point of loading right through to unloading.

“Unsecured loads on a vehicle can cause serious problems if the load moves, and it is vital that drivers, operators, and consignors all understand their legal responsibilities, particularly when it comes to hazardous loads. We at Humberside Police are committed to improving road safety and reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our road network.                                         

For more information on load security, please see the .Gov website: [HERE]